What Is It With Black People?

[bednobs]

That makes them so good at running? Just watching the athletics and 7 out of 8 in the 100m final are black (top 3 all jamaican) is there something in physiology?

[piggynose]

Don't you mean people with colour?

[dannyk13]

I think that it is something in their physiology.

[dannyk13]

Piggy, that would include Asians, so no.

[bobbinwales]

Whatever it is dont seem to help with swimming or rowing or cycling, shooting

[Mamyalynne]

Yes.

https://www.livescience.com/10716-scientists-theorize-black-athletes-run-fastest.html

[Mamyalynne]

Bednobs asked about running.

[ToraToraTora]

it's obvious but we are not allowed to say.

[dannyk13]

Oops try again:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14679657

[bobbinwales]

//Bednobs asked about running.//
But if its jgust phsyiology would'nt that help in other olympic events too, eg cycling

[Mozz71]

Tora- //it's obvious but we are not allowed to say.//

Obvious? Go on Professor Tora, spill the beans.

[Mamyalynne]

Not necessarily, centre of gravity as mentioned in my first link is key - as black runners tend to have longer limbs.

[Arksided]

They know when to leg it when in danger of being zapped or chased by something... awesome sprinters

[bednobs]

i seem to remember reading something about marathon runners from ethiopia, who dominate the sport - how the majority come from a tiny region

[jourdain2]

When I was an athletics coach it emerged that black athletes of certain origins (not the Mo Farah's of this world) possessed a much higher percentage of 'red twitch' muscle than white athletes. There are also different bodily characteristics, such as more powerfully developed gluteus maximus. This gives them the advantage in speed/power events.

At the time, one fairly high-up coach (who quite innocently pointed out these facts) was effectively sacked.

[jno]

back in the days when the West Indies were the top cricket team thanks in part to an endless line of ferocious fast bowlers, I recall reading a claim that they somehow had extra super spines because of genetics.

Then the endless line ended and all of a sudden genetics must have just stopped happening. Funny thing, DNA.

[jno]

with Ethiopians and Kenyans it was also said to be something to do with living and training at high altitudes and thinner air.

[Sqad]

This question has been only partially answered for decades and it has nothingto do with the physiology but everything to do with the anatomy.
The Achilles tendon is an important muscle used in sprinting and the angle at which it is inserted into the talus ( ankle bone) is fundamental in sprinting. That angle tends to be large in Negros compared to other races and may, just may, give them an advantage in the sprint events.

[Ken4155]

https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/11/01/241895965/how-one-kenyan-tribe-produces-the-worlds-best-runners?t=1627741584258

This what you refer to, bednobs?

[bednobs]

probably - not ethiopia then, whoops!